Blackpool defender backs fans to make a difference

The Seasiders are among a select group of clubs who have been permitted to host 1,000 fans inside their stadium for this afternoon’s clash with Swindon Town.

It’s part of a pilot event that will hopefully see grounds return to full capacity in the coming weeks and months.

Blackpool’s first three competitive games of the season have all been played behind closed doors, so having fans back inside the ground comes as a welcome boost to Turton and his team-mates.

“For God knows how long now there’s been no fans and no football, so to be playing football was a start – but to get even a few fans back now will make a massive difference for us,” the defender said.

“We can’t wait to get as many fans as possible back now.

“We might not be able to hear the manager when he’s screaming at you as much as before, but in all seriousness it’s a huge boost.

“Just to have someone cheering us on and making that bit of atmosphere should make all the difference.

“It’s step-by-step now, it’s gradually getting back to normal.

“You watch the news and you hear about little lockdowns and you just wish it won’t go back to that.

“But to have 1,000 fans is a positive move and it shows things are going in the right direction, and hopefully we’ll be back to normal soon.”

Blackpool will be looking to claim their first win of the season after suffering a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Plymouth Argyle last weekend.

That’s despite Neil Critchley’s side dominating for large parts of the game, pinning Plymouth in their own half after Luke Jephcott’s third-minute opener.

“We came away from Plymouth on Saturday really disappointed not to get a result given how well we played and the chances we made,” Turton added.

“We were really, really frustrated but we’ve got to put that behind us, take what we can from it and take the positives because we did play well at the end of the day.

“If we take that into Saturday, hopefully we can turn it around and get a good result to set up our season.”

Despite Blackpool’s frustrating start to the league campaign, Turton has been impressed with the style of football they’re now beginning to play under Critchley.

Should the Seasiders continue to deliver encouraging performances, Turton believes it’s only a matter of time until the desired results follow.

“When the manager first came in he didn’t want to make too many changes too quickly, he wanted to wait until he could get a pre-season and bring in the players he wanted and play the way he wanted to play,” Turton said.

“At the end of last season when he took over, he implemented little things about how he wanted to play but as soon as pre-season started, it was his way.

“The lads have taken to it really well as you can tell from the way we’ve been playing and I fully believe the results will come.”